Transplanter



0ct. 27, 1931. w NUERWELL 1,829107 TRANSPLANTER Filed Ost. 11, 1930 INVENTOR ATI'ORNEY Patenfecl Oct. 27, 1931 PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK W. N'U'ERWELL, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

TRANSPLANTER Applimtion fi1ed ctober 11, 1930. Serial N0. 488,018.

My invention relates to transplanters and more particularly to a device of that character for transplanting sn1all trees, shrubs, fiowers, herbaceous *plants and the like, the principal objects of my.invention being to provide a transplanter that may be readily operated with one band, that is simple in construction and that can be manufactured at 10W cost.

A furt-her obj ect o'f the invention is to embody shock absorbing means in a device of this character in 0rder to facilitate smooth and eflicient operation, thereof.

In accomplishing these and other objects of my invention I have provlded improved details of structure the preferred forms 015 which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view 0f my preferred form of the transplanter shown in fully opened condition.

Fig. 2 is a perspeoti ve view of the device in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 F ig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 44 Fi 2.

leferring more in detail to the drawings:

The transplanter is formed of cooperating stationary and movable members 1 and 2, the stationary member including a shovel 3, circular in form and having an outwardly tapering lower cutting edge 4. Secured to it-s upper edge by welding 0r the like, asindicated at 5 is a handle 6, preferably formed of a solid steel rod and terminating in a lateral grip portion 7 having a downwardly depending ear 8 on the extreme outer end thereof.

The movable member 2 comprises a shovel 9 complementary o0 the shovel 3 for cooperating therewith, a handle 10 being fixed on its upper edge. Secured to the upper end of the handle 10, on opposite sides thereof, by

' welding or the like, are plates 11 fornn'ng a yoke for receiving the outer ends of a U- shaped bar 12 extending over the handle 6 and being formed integral with the yoke by means such as welding, as indicated at 13. The Ushaped member 12 extends at right angles from the movable handle and its closed end projects around and beyond the stationary handle to pern1it outward movement of the movable member.

The stationary and movable members are pivotally connected by extending a rivet 14 through aligning openings in the yoke plates 11 and ear 8 so that the bar 12 serves as a grip member f0r cooperating with grip portion 7 of the stationary member.

In Order to protect the operator from shocks or j ars incident to manipulation of the device a resilient block 15, formed of rubber or the like, is preferably secured by a screw 16 t0 a cross plate 17 fixed t0 the upper ed e of the bar 12.

ideans for normally maintaining the transplanter in opened condition comprises a spring 18 hav1'ng opposite ende fixed respectivel'y to the handle 6 and to the closed end 0f the bar 12.

.. Attention is particularly directed to the structure of the shovels which are cut away or. recessed, as indicated ab 19, for forming perpendicular notches leaving lower, downwar dly slanting ears 20 and 21 on the shovels 3 and 9 respectively, the notches being provided for receiving the horizontal extending branches or vines of plants. The ears 21 are preferably 0f slightly greater diameter t0 receive the ears 20 so that a complete circle Will be -cut when inserting the cool into the ground.

In transplanting shrubs or the like with a device constructed and assembled as described the operation would be as follows:

The shovel of the stationary member is positioned concentricall-y adjacent one side of the plant the horizontal vines or branches being forced upwardly over the extension ears and into the recessed portion of the shovel. The operatqr, by grasping the grip Portion of the stationary me1nber and pullpre3ses the resilient block, thereby causing the cylinder 0f earth containing the plant t0 be seeurely clamped between the shovels so tha; the cylinder and plant may be readily ren1dve'd from the ground.

It is obvious that outwardly extending roots of;the plant will -be pruned by the shove'zls, ho-wever, a sulficient a1n0-unt of s'oil and roo ts are removed Wilth the plant f01{ transplanting purposes. y

The devi ce is also part1 removing small plante of cotton 0r lil;e crops fron1 I'OWS er sections of rows Where th complementary shovel, a handle securedtto the complernentary shovel, and having; a laterally extending grip portion including a free end engageablewith the"firsfi named handle t-o limit doWnward movement of the last named grip portion, and means fon'pivotally connecting the movable member to said ear. v

2. In a transplanter, a stationary member ineluding a shovel,-a handle se'cured t0 said shovel and te1minating in a laterally extendiing grip portion, a 'movable member includ= 1ng a 00mplementary shovel, a handle sec11red to the c0rhplementary shovel, and having a laterally extehcling grip portion ineluding a loop end mounted over the first named han dleand= ngageabh thereWith 130 limit downward movement ofsaid last named grip portion, and means for pivotally connecti'ng the stabionary and movable members.

3. Ina transplanter, alstationary member incli1ding a sihoveil, a handle secured to said 'shoVeland terminating in a laterally extending grip Portion, aniovable memher including abomplementary shovel a handle se'cured t0 the comPlementary sho.vel, and havinga late1ally-extending grip ortion for cooperating' With said first-named grip portion includihg a loop end mouhted over the first nained handle and engageable therewit-h te limit dowhwa-rd movement 015 sai'd last named grip 'porti o1l, and a spring connecting Said lo'op end and the first named handle t0 normally m'aintai'n said loop in engagement with 7 'the fi'rst named handle 4=. In a transplanter, a stationary member y including a shovel, a handle secured t0 said sh0vel:andterminating in a laterally extending' grip portion having a downwardly dependih'gea'r, a movable member includihg a c0'mplementax'ij shoxrel, a handle secnred to the complementar y shovel and having a-lataerally extendihg gifip.porti0n incl'uding a cularly adapfi'lad for free end engageable with the first named handle to limit downward movement of the last named grip portion, means for pivotally connecting the movable member t0 said ear, and resilient means on said last named grip portion adapted t0 engage the griPportlon 0f thefirst named. handle to: lin1-it downward moVement.of 1ihe last named. handle.

5. In a transplanter, a stationarymernber including a shovel, a handle secured to Said shovel and terminating in a laterally extending grip portion having a downwardly dependi'ng ear, a movable member including a complementary shoVel, a handle secured t0 the complementary shovel and tern'n'nating in a fork atlateral U-shaped member hav1'ng its open end secured to the f0rlc f01'? reeeiving said ear and its elosed end momitedover the handle 0f' said stationary member; and means f01 pi-votally conneeting said f 0rk t0the depending ea12 6. In a transplanter, a stationary me1nloer including a shovel, a handle secured to said shovel and terminating in a laterally extend ing grip portion havin=g a downwardly depending ea=r=a xnovable member ineluding a eompl'ementary shovel, a handle Secured 150 the c0mplementaryshovel and t'erminating in a= fork, a lateral U'-shapedmember having its 0pet1end'se0ared tethe fork for receiving Said ear, and its closed end mounted 0Ver v the hztndleof seid stationarymember, means f01' pivotally connecting said fork t0 the depending'ea1jancl yielding 1neans connected tt the stati0n1ry handle and 120 the U-shaped niember for normally maintaining thetespeccive shovels' in opehed condition.

7. In a transplanter, a stationary me1nber inclnd-ihgai sh0vel hav'ing lOWQP extension ears, said ears having downwardly slanting upper edges, a handle"secured to said shov el and term1nat1ng 111 a laterally extending gfip portiorl, ainrdvable member: incl'uding a CO1- respG-nding shovel} the (ears of one shovel beln-g spaeed 1ner e than the=ears of the other shoVel-top'ermit an overlappinig relation 0-f the ea1te", a handle secured t0 the compl'ementary sht vel and having" a latelrally extendi'ng jgi"ip portion'landi n1'eans for pixfotally connecti'ngt-he-stati0nary and fnovable me1nbers.

8. In a. transplanter, a stationary membet in'Cludingh shovel, a handle secured;to said shevel anal te'rmlnating in a lateTallly exlending' giip portion having a down'wardly dependingear, a m0valle niember ixieluding a eom plenlentary shovel', a handle sec1'1red to the coxnplernentary shovel, and having a laerallYextending grip portion, means 1"0r 'pivotally connectihg the .movable me1nber "t0said ear, and ai resi=lient block on onegrip portion and adapted to2 be engaged bythe other gnip pertionwhen the respecisi*de shovels ar-e 111 closed e0nd1t1on.

9. In atrans1e=lanter,a statlonary me1nber j shovel and terminating in a laterally extending grip ortion having a downwardly depending ear, a movable member including a complementary shovel, a handle secured to the complementary shovel and terminating in a fork, a lateral U-shaped member having its open end secured the fork for receiving said ear, and its closed end mounted over the handle ol: said stationary member, means f0r pivotally connecting said fork to the depending ear, a resilient block on the U-shaped member adapted to be engaged by the grip portion, and yielding means connecting the stutionary and movable members for normally maintaining the shovels in opened conclition.

10. In a transplanter, a stationary member including a shovel having lower extension ears, a. handle secured to said shovel including a laterally extending grip portion, a movable member including a complementary shovel, the ears of one shovel being spaced more than the ears of the other shovel to permit an overlapping relation of the ears, a handle secured to the complementary shovel and having a laterally extending grip portion, und means for pivotally connecting the stationary and 1novable members.

11. In a transplanter, a stationary member including a shovel, a handle secured to saicl shovel inclnding a laterally extending grip portion, a movable member including a complementary shovel, a. handle secured to the complementary shovel und having a laterally extending grip portion, means for pivotally connecting the stationary and movable members, and resilient means mounted between seid grip portions adapted t0 be compressed alter the shovels have been moved to closed position for clamping a ball of earth between the shovels.

12. In a transplanter, a member including a shovel having lower extension ears, a handle 0n said shovel, a movable member includ ing a corresponding shovel, the ears of one shovel being spackad more than the ears of the other shovel to permit an overlapping relation of the ears, a handle secured 130 the complementary shovel, and means for pivotally connecting the stationary and movable members.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FREDERICK W. NUERWELL. 

